DC from Cape Cod

Would any of my 993 bretheren care to share their impressions of the Cayenne S?

I am looking for a SUV in the $60K range (give or take $10K) and it is one that I have been considering. Others include the X5 4.6, the Lexus and the (don't laugh) H2 Hummer.

Vehicle will replace my 2002 M3 as a daily driver and will see about 5,000 miles per year.

Ray Calvo

Turn off the computer, go to your dealer, and drive one and make up your own mind. Only way to be sure.

Local dealer had an open house and allowe people to test-drive one. The ads were right; this thing drives like no SUV out there. Excellent handing and braking; beautiful shifting tranny.

It's still a 8 ft high gas guzzling land barge, tho. Your call!

(From an M3 to a Sport Futility Vehicle? Oh, Brother!!!!! Must be senility!)

MetalSolid

I think most here are disappointed with nearly all current offerings from Porsche without the "GT" moniker...

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">(From an M3 to a Sport Futility Vehicle? Oh, Brother!!!!! Must be senility!) </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">

Steve 96C4S

Why do you need an SUV? Just curious.

We had a Cayenne give us the flash on our 993 DC/Md/N.Va drive today. I'd give it my vote just for that show of solidarity! Actually, in black, they kind of look cool. The interior of the few I've looked at was incredible, for an SUV. If it were me, I'd get a 540i wagon instead with the M5 wheels! But that's just me.
You can't go wrong with the BMW with the huge engine, either. The Range Rover would be my pick wayyy before the behemoth H2. Not sure why people buy a Hummer - it just doesn't compute in my brain, but what the heck do I know. The guy who owns the body shop I take our cars to just got an H2 in grey. He just got divorced and this was his "newly single" gift to himself.

Good luck with your decision and enjoy all the test drives!

Steve

DC from Cape Cod

Senility plus the increased Sched. 179 deduction and the need for vehicle that can handle some snow.

M3 is a great car but is not a keeper - I lease it for work.

I plan on test-driving one ASAP (nearest dealer about 90 minutes away) - I wanted to hear what people that have similar tastes in cars (993) thought.

I'm not the Escalade/Navigator type and it has to be able to eat up some corners or I won't like it.

B-Line

Hey D.C.

I am curious why you would opt for the 4.6is X5. Of course it is an amazing vehicle but can you really justify the cost difference between the 4.6 and 4.4.
If I were you I would get the 4.4 and do some Dinan work to the car. You'll save a ton of money and you'll have similar performance. The X5 4.4 is a ton of vehicle even on it's own. But if price is no issue at all, hell.. go for the 4.6.
Also, I test drove the H2 and hated it. More body roll then I care to describe. The brakes were very weak and it accelerated like a 4 banger camry.
I also sat in a Cayenne S. Although I love the Pepper in all it's forms, I found that the H2 and the Pepper felt like they didn't have the same interior space I am used to in an X5. I was very surprised. I was considering trading in my X5 for the Pepper but once I sat in it, I knew the X5 was a keeper.
The H2 was also surprisingly small inside compared to the X5.
Now, I might be biased, after all, I do own an X5. But I have nothing but incredible things to say about the vehicle. It tows 7000lbs with no problems, it handles great, it's fast and is like no other SAV/SUV i've ever driven.
I can't find a single complaint to make about the X other than I wish it were a manual transmission.
Hope this helps and of course, it's just my opinion

DC from Cape Cod

I hear the 2004 X5 4.4 is getting 335 HP and that the 4.6 is being discontinued so I may look in that direction as well.

I had a 2001 X5 3.0 5 speed and I liked it quite a bit.

I am surprised to hear that the Cayenne is smaller than the X5....

Dave Crellin

I drove a Cayenne S last week. If I were genuinely back in the SUV market, it wouldn't get my money. I'd take the Range Rover, no question

Franklin229

I would go to a Land Rover Dealer and check out/SIT IN the Range Rover-not only does it still look like a truck (read: no "bloated tick" crossover styling* here) the interior blows away anything out there!!! The Hummer is nice in concept but suffers from the typical GM mechanicals/styling details (fake grab hooks on the hood?!). I also know a lot of folks who swear by their X5's. Hate the Cayenne*.

Ray Calvo

My vote for your next vbehicle: wait for the Audi S4 Avant next year or try the Audl AllRoad. Still look like decent cars, not a bloated land barge.

Rezal

Well, since we're already down this "senility" road, how about a LM002?
<a href="http://alobc.tripod.com/20020623elmhurst/13-lamborghini_lm002_m.jpg" target="_blank">http://alobc.tripod.com/20020623elmhurst/13-lamborghini_lm002_m.jpg</a>

On a more serious side, the most recent JD Power survey ranked the H2 at the bottom of its list. Among the complaints were poor gas mileage (DOH!)

I guess you're the perfect example of the customer Porsche wants for the Cayenne. So, you could go down that path.

What is the Sched. 179? Is that the one which allows you a tax deduction for a truck? (In which case, any station wagon, Avant, M5 or Shooting Brake, will not work for you)

Steve 96C4S

Almost forgot, have you checked out a 1 year old Mercedes ML55? <a href="http://www.cars.com/search/used/cc/standard/results/single/ld/detail.jhtml?paId=126045406&aff=national&sellerView=true&src=&cid=" target="_blank">http://www.cars.com/search/used/cc/standard/re sults/single/ld/detail.jhtml?paId=126045406&aff=national&sellerView=true&src=&cid=</a>

"Topping the range, the high-performance ML55 packs a 5.5-liter V-8 that develops 342 horsepower". Uh, 342 HP? In an SUV? Sweet! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

They are only $55k or less.
Fast as a bullet, truckish and rare.

Steve <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Greg Fishman

Look at the new VW. I hear you on the Section 179. Looking at our next SUV/tow vehicle now.

sodly

Re: the Cayenne being smaller than the X5... are you sure about that. Although I own neither, I have driven both and was impressed that the Cayenne was noticably bigger. Seemed there was more legroom in the back seat as well as more space in the cargo area. I think maybe you should re-check your interior dimensions. The Cayenne's roomier! It's both longer and wider.

Greg D.

I'd consider a Land rover for real SUV stuff (snow, towing, mud etc) as you will never get stuck with one of these... Either a discovery 2 (cavernous inside) for less money than your budget and super comfortable, or a Range rover (BMW engine) for incredible style inside and out and great off road capabilities.

For On-road prowess, that leaves the cayenne and the BMW X5, none of which are as good off road (accordign to various comparison tests) but handle more like cars. But I have found that when I drive my wife's Disco2, I don't feel like going fat, it's very relaxing (and agreat tow vehicle) for $40K new and about $25K for a 2 to 3 year old.